Jessica Ehrlich was born, raised and currently resides in St. Petersburg, Fl. She received a bachelor's degree from Vanderbilt University and a law degree from Southern Methodist University.

After working as a lawyer, Ehrlich took a job as a congressional staffer. She worked under U.S. Rep. Clay Shaw on the Social Security subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee. She then served as counsel for U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch on the Financial Services Committee.

She returned to St. Petersburg after her father was diagnosed with a terminal blood disease. Following his death in 2010, she remained in her hometown and began doing public service work. She also worked for Bloomberg LP developing software aimed at bringing transparency to the legislative and regulatory processes.

Ehrlich is single.

Jessica Ehrlich, a former Capitol Hill aide making her first bid for elected office, is challenging Rep. C.W. Bill Young in Florida's newly redrawn 13th Congressional District.

She has criticized the long-time Republican congressman as out of touch and unable to appreciate the impact of the recession on middle class families. She has repeatedly gone after Young for his decision to bypass town hall forums and debates and frequently mentions that Young has been in Congress for more than 40 years.

She was quick, for example, to criticize Young following his encounter with an activist on July 4, 2012. The man asked Young if he supported raising the minimum wage and Young told him to "get a job." The 81-year-old Young said later he misunderstood the question, but the video went viral and gave Young national attention.

She also has faulted Young for his recent decision to call for an end to the war in Afghanistan after initially criticizing President Barack Obama for wanting set a timetable for troops to leave.

"The residents of the Tampa area are tired of these broken politics from Congressman Young, and ready for new leadership who will be a strong voice for middle class families,'' Ehrlich said at one point.

Florida's 13th Congressional District is based in Pinellas County, which has had a history of supporting moderate Republicans. It was tweaked by the GOP-controlled Legislature this past year and the new numbers show that nearly 53 percent of voters in the district supported President Barack Obama in 2008.

Ehrlich has also tried to make Medicare a pivotal issue in the race by emphasizing that Young supported the budget proposal put together by Rep. Paul Ryan, the 2012 Republican vice presidential candidate.

Ehrlich says she supports abortion rights and that medical decisions should be left to a woman and her doctor.